Ironing machine control



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'.r. A. cAs'rRlcoNE IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed sept. r'8. 195e TMW? March 9, 1943 March 9, l943- J. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,313,123

IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Sept.. 8, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 @wf-@w March 9, 1943- J. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,313,123

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IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Sept. 8, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 f9.2 L F475 Mrdl 9 1943i J. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,313,123

IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Sept. 8. 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 wel? for? c/a/z @as /zfz 'a0/a March 9, 1943. J. A. cAs'rRlcoNE 2,313,123

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IRONING MCHINE CONTROL Filed Sept. 8, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 9, 1943s .1. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,313,123

IRONING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Sept. 8, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 715 Lfzyei/Uf:

c/afz @sfr/*icone Patented Mar. 9, 1943 IRONING MACHINE CONTROL J ohn A. Castricone, Peoria, Ill., assigner to Aitor fer Bros. Company, Peoria, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application September 8, 1939, Serial No. 293,987

Claims.

The present invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to an improved control mechanism for any conventional roll type ironer.

When clothes have been dampened preparal tory to ironing, it will be realized that it is a practical impossibility to accomplish an entirely uniform dampening of all parts of a garment, but at the same time the operation or ironing must complete the drying of all portions of the garment. It is, therefore, highly desirable that the ironer control mechanism be of such design that the rotation of the roll may be momentarily interrupted to provide spot ironing in order that the application of heat from the ironing shoe may be prolonged while certain unduly dampened or unusually heavy portions of the garment are in engagement between the roll and shoe, in order that the heat ofthe shoe be utilized to complete the drying of the garment.

'I'his type of ironing machine control has been provided in the prior art, but has been found to be somewhat objectionable for the reason that a stationary pressing does not provide an entirely satisfactory surface finish on the Work, and it appears that the only way commonly known at the present time by which the desired surface, sheen and finish may be given the work is by pressing under a. heated ironing shoe, which is maintained in constant surface movement relative to the work.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a roll-type ironing machine wherein the desired relative movement between the roll and shoe is normally accomplished by the advancing of work along the normal path of feed of the machine with feed interrupting means and with burnishing means, whereby relative movement between the roll and shoe may be maintained whenever the feeding movement of the roll is interrupted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ironer control mechanism as outlined above, in which a foot pedal may be operated in such a manner as to momentarily interrupt the feeding movement of the roll while the roll and shoe are in engagement and to automatically cause the roll and shoe to begin to move relative to each other and to continue this relative movement while the feeding movement is thus interrupted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ironer control mechanism wherein the ironing shoe and roll may be moved in a reciproeating movement in a path parallel tothe axis of the roll to maintain relative movement be-4 tween the roll and shoe when the feeding movement of the roll is interrupted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironer driving means and control therefor of such design that the ironer roll may be released from its driving mechanism in such a manner as to be free from manual rotation to advance the Work, and having mechanisms effective to accomplish relative movement between the ironing roll and shoe while the roll is thus released.

Other objects will appear hereinafter and will become readily apparent by an examination of the following specification and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an ironing machine cabinet;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the ironing machine cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the gear housing and ironer elements;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the ironer shoe supporting brackets;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the ironing shoe supporting brackets;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the gear housing;

Fig. 'l is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 1--1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken'substantially on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a. detail plan sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan sectional view of the reciprocating driving means forthe ironing shoe, and is taken substantially on the plane of the line illl0 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line' iI-II of Fig. 10; l

Fig. l2 is a detail sectional view of the ironer control clutch mechanism being taken substantially on the plane of the line I2-I2 of Fig. 9; and v Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view similar toFig. 12, showing the several parts of they structure in a changed position.

The roll dribe mechanism Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, the entire ironer mechanism ismountedk in the cabinet I0, which preferably comprises legs i I, a worktable I2 and a top or cover member I3. The arrangement is such that the top I3 may be removed to provide an unobstructed working surface on the table I2.

The ironer mechanisml comprises an ironing bed, which is preferably in the form of -a roll I5, rotatably mounted on a roll bracket I3 formed integral with a gear case I1 and secured in any suitable manner to a table portion I2 of the cabinet I3. The roll 5 is rotatably driven by means of a motor I3 which operates through certain power transmission mechanisms housed within the gear case I1 and the roll bracket I3. The motor shaft I9 is connected by means of a suitable coupling 2| to the lower end of a worm gear shaft 22 supported between the lower bearing 23 and an upper bearing 25. The lower bearing 23 is bolted to the gear case |1 by means of cap screws 24, and the upper bearing 25 is formed integral with the top wall of the gear case. A worm 23 is formed adjacent the upper end of the worm gear shaft and drives a worm gear 21 mounted on the sleeve for free rotating movement on a shaft 28 secured between a boss 28 formed in the wall of the gear case I1 and a plate 3| secured between bosses 32 in` the gear case I1 by the cap screws 33. The worm gear 21 constantly meshes with a lubricating gear 33, which serves to carry lubricant from the sump 23 in the gear case I1 to the gear 3l.

Adriving connection between the worm gear 21 and a pinion gear 33 is established by the sleeve 35, which is rotatably mounted Von the shaft 28 and which carries the worm gear 21 and the pinion gear 34 secured in position by means of a key 33. The pinion -34 meshes with and drives idler gear 38 mounted on a stub shaft 33, secured in la boss 4| of the gear case I'I in order to transmit rotary movement from the pinion 34 to a driven gear 42, mounted on the ironer roll drive shaft 43. One end of the roll drive shaft 43 'is rotatably mounted on a stationary bearing 44 carried by a bearing support plate 45 bolted to suitable bosses 43 on a gear case I1 by means of the cap screws 41. The opposite end of the roll drive shaft 43 is freely rotatable within the bushing 48 carried in a boss 52 formed in the wall of the gear case I1. The arrangement is such that the continuous rotary movement of the motor shaft I8 is transmitted by means of the worm gear 23 to the worm wheel 21, thence through the sleeve 35 to the pinion 34 and through the idler gear 38 to the driven gear 42 in order to impart continuous rotary movement to the roll drive shaft 43, and a clutch mechanism is provided whereby the motion of the roll drive shaft 43 may be transmitted to the roll I5 as will be hereinafter described.

This clutch mechanism 59 includes a driving element 3| keyed to the roll drive shaft 43 and secured thereon by means of the set screw 32, and a driven clutch element 33 mounted for free rotation and longitudinal sliding movement on the roll drive shaft 43 at a point between clutch driving member 3| and the stationary bearing 44. The driven clutch element 33 includes gear teeth 34 which are adapted to mesh with correspondjng internal gear teeth 35 formed on a cap 33 rigidly secured to the driving clutch member 3|. Thus, when the gear teeth 34 are in engagement with the internal gear teeth 35, the rotary movement of the roll drive shaft 43 is transmitted through the clutch 53 to the driven sprocket wheel 33, and thence to the ironer roll 3 through the medium of the chain 1|, the sprocket 12, the sprocket 13, chain 14 and roll shaft sprocket 15.

Disengagement of the clutch 58 will be accomplished by moving the driven clutch element 33 longitudinally along the shaft until the gear teeth manually at the will of the operator as will be hereinafter described.

The synchronous control mechanism When the ironer roll I5 is being driven, the ironer shoe |3| should be held in firm pressure relationship with the roll in order to effect the proper pressing of the work passing between the roll and the shoe. For this reason it is desirable that a single manual control be provided of such design that the actuation of the control will cause the roll I5 to begin its rotary movement and will simultaneously brong the shoe I3| into proper pressure relationship with the roll. To accomplish this result, a notched disk or driving clutch element |32 is rigidly secured to a hub portion |33 of the worm gear 21 in such a manner as to rotate constantly at all times when the motor I3 is in operation. The driven clutch element comprises a casting |34 in which a transverse slide plate |35 is mounted. The slide plate |35is se 4order to clear the shaft 28 and the hub ||3 of the casting |34.

To actuate the slide plate |35, a rocker arm ||2 is mounted for free rotation on the hub |I3 of the casting |34 and is secured in the recess I I3 between the body of the casting |33 and the slide plate |35.

ing dogs ||4 or ||5 will be engaged and held in stationary position by the stop arm IIB which is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft ||1 and resiliently held inv engagement with the rocker arm I|2 by means of the tension spring II8 anchored on a bracket |I3 of the supporting plate 45. At this time it will be clear that none of the external parts of the machine will be in motion since the driving force transmitted to the motor I8 will be effective only to, rotate the several gears and shafts in the gear case I1, but will not drive the roll I5 due to the fact that the clutch mechanism 53 is in its disengaged position.

When the operator desires to start the machine, she will actuate the knee control |2| which is effective to engage the tooth |33 with the toothed disk |32 in such a manner that the casting |34 will be driven through one-half of a revolution of movement. This movement will result in engaging the clutch 53 to establish the driving connection with the roll I5 and simultaneously cause the ironer shoe |3I to move into engagement with the roll I5. 'Ihe knee control |2I is pivotally mounted on the pin |22 and when it is actuated by the operator, the motion will be transmitted through the link |23 pivoted on the control lever |2| at |24 to a control arm |25 secured to a stub shaft |23 journaled in the removable end plate 18 of the gear housing I1. If desired. a lug |21 may be formed on the end plate 18 and positioned between the bifurcated end portions |23 of the arm |23 in such a man- During the normal operation of the machine, one of the downwardly extend' asians ner as to limit the arcuate' movement of the arm |25 and consequently limit the movement of the stub shaft |25. When the knee control lever |2| is thus actuated, the partial rotation ofthe stub shaft |20 will causethecontrol arm |25 to exert an upward force on the tie rod |32 in such a manner as to lift-the free end of the stop arm ||5 upwardLv against the tension exerted by the spring I |8 and allow the operating end of the arm I|5 to release the dog I|5. The tension spring |33 which extends between an anchor pin |45 on the rocker arm ||2 and one of the screws |05 on the casting |04, will then exert suillcient tension to pivot the rocker arm ||2 about the hub of the casting |04 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13. At that time a pin |45, which is stationarily secured to a rocker arm II2 and freely movable within a slot |30 in the slide plate |05, will cause the slide plate to move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 13, in such a manner that the tooth portion |05 and the block |03 will engage the toothed disk |02. It will be understood that the toothed disk I 02 is rotating at all times and that when the tooth |03 engages the disk |02, the entire casting |04, together with all its associated parts is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction until the dog portion ||4 of the rocker arm ||2 is engaged by the stop arm I|5. In this connection it should be pointed out that in operating the machine the operator will depress the knee control lever only momentarily in such a manner that when the stop arm I I5 disengages the dog ||5 it will immediately move back to its original position in time to be engaged by the dog ||4 when the casting |04 and its associated parts have moved through approximately one half of a revolution of movement. As the dog I|4 engages the stop arm ||5, the casting |04 will momentarily continue its rotary movement with the result that the continued movement of the casting |04 will cause the tension spring |03 to be elongated and the rocker arm I|2 will pivot about the hub ||0 of the casting |04 so that the pin |35 will move the slide plate |05 back to the position shown in Fig. 12 and will thus dserigage the tooth |03 from the toothed disk |02 and stop rotation of the casting |04 and its associated mechanism.

`From the above it should be clear that each time the knee control lever |2I is actuated, the casting |04 and its associated mechanisms will rotate through one half of a revolution of motion and come to a stop until such time as the knee control lever |2| is again actuated. This movement of the casting |04 accomplishes two purposes; the first being to engage or disengage the clutch mechanism 53 controlling the rotary movement of roll I5, and the second being to simultaneously move the heated ironing shoe |0I into or out of engagement with the roll.

The `roll drive clutch control To actuate the clutch 53, a cam surface I4I isformed on the Vcasting |04 and is adapted to engage the cam extension |42 on a shifting yoke '|43 secured at the endl of the slide shaft |44 by means .of a cap screw |45. As Y will be seen in Fig. f8, theouter end of the slide shaft |44 is supported for longitudinal movement in a bearing |46 in the support plate 45, while'the inner end of the shaft |44 is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing |41 formedwin the wall of the gear case I1. l A spring |48 tends to urge the shaft |44 outwardly in order vthat the shifting yoke The means for moving the ironing shoe m in a pressure engagement with the roll |5 com-` prise an eccentric |5| which isformed as an integral part of the casting |04 and which carries an eccentric strap |52 provided with an elongated slot |53 through which'a pin |54 carried by the crank |55 may be positioned, in order that the movement of the eccentric may exert pressure on the pin |54 through the medium of a' coiled compensating spring |55 housed between the walls |51 and |53 of the eccentric strap |52. The crank |55 is Vcarried by a rock shaft I5I iournaled in suitable bearings |52 in the gear oase |1 and extending longitudinally of the machine to a point adjacent a pair of stationary ironer shoe supports |53.

These ironer shoe supports |53 are secured to the frame of the ironing machine in any suitable manner and each carries at its upper end an ironing shoe arm |54, which is'pivoted for universal movement with respect to the stationary support |33. as will be hereinafter described. The arms |54 support the ironing shoe |0| and in the normal operation of the machine this shoe will be automatically moved into engagement with the roll I5 Whenever the roll begins to rotate and will be moved out of engagement withl the roll whenever the roll ceases its rotary movement. This automatic movement of the ironing shoe |.0| is accomplished by providing the rock shaft |5| with a pair of crank arms |1| carrying crank pins |12 on which the connecting rods or links |13 are mounted. The upper end of each of the connecting rods |13 is mounted on a cross pin |14 stationarily carried by each of the arms |84. The arrangement is such that whenever the eccentric |6| moves to the position shown in the drawings, the spring |55 will exert a resilient pressure against the pin |54 tending to rock the shaft |5I. This rocking movement of the shaft I5| will be transmitted through the cranks |1|, the connecting rods |13, and

the pins |14, in such a manner as to pivot each of the arms |54 downwardly and cause the ironing shoe |0I to resiliently engage the roll I5. The parts will remain in this position untilsuch time as the knee control lever |2| will again be actuated in order to stop the roll |5 and disengage the ironing shoe Il. When this is done it will be clear that the casting |04 will again move through one half revolution of movement which will result in relieving the pressure exerted between the shoe |0| and the roll I5 by the eccentric |5|. This movement of the eccentric |5| will operate to withdraw the shoe I0| to a predetermined spaced relationship with the roll I5 and will also cause the cam |4| to disengage the clutch 53 and stop the rotary drive to the roll I5. A pair of tension springs |15, each of which extends between one of the pivot pins |55 and the anchor pin |16, carried on the connecting rods |13, will assist in moving the connect- However, when the casting rods |18 upwardly to cause the arms |84 to Divot about the pins |55 and to withdraw the ironing shoe I8| from the surface of the roll I5.

The roll drive interrupting means With the mechanism as thus far described, the arrangement is such that when the operator actuates the knee control |2I, the roll I5 and shoe |8| will operate simultaneously so that the roll I 5 will begin to rotate as the ironing shoe III moves into pressing engagement with it and the shoe |8| will be caused to move away from the roll I5 whenever the rotary movement of the roll ceases. Under ordinary circumstances this type of operation is preferable since there is no danger that the ironing shoe |8I will bear against the given portion of the fabric surface of the roll I5 for a sufllcient length of time to cause scorching, but in the prior art this mode of operation has at times been objectionable in that it did not readily permit the operator to interrupt the rotation of the roll and yet hold the roll and shoe in engagement.

It will be appreciated that at certain times it becomes quite important that means be provided to stop the roll while maintaining the roll and shoe in engagement in order to accomplish spot ironing, wherein a small area of the work may be subjected to continuous ironing in order to properly meet certain conditions that arise in practice. Such conditions may arise in a number of situations, as, for example, in the event that the operator encounters an unduly dampened portion of the work and wishes to facilitate drying by means of continuous contact between the work and the heated ironing shoe. It has, therefore, been found desirable to provide means for interrupting the normal operation of the machine in order that the roll I5 may be momentarily Stopped while it is engaged by the heated ironing shoe ill In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the operator may accomplish this result by depressing the treadle |8|, which extends between the two vertical leg members of the machine cabinet |8. The treadle |8| is secured to a pivoted shaft |82 extending between the legs II, and oneend of this shaft |82 is secured to a crank |83 connected by means of a pull rod |84 to one arm of a bell crank |85 pivoted on a pin |88 within the leg The other arm of the bell crank |85 is connected by means of a pull rod |81 to a crank |88 secured to a rock shaft |89 journaled in a bearing I9| formed integral with the gear case 1. The crank |88 is preferably secured to the rock shaft |89 by means of a set screw |92, and if desired,` a stop lug |98 may be positioned between two bifurcated end portions |94 of the crank |98 in order to limit the rocking movement of the rock shaft |89.

Within the gear case I1, a shifting yoke |95 is secured to the rock shaft |89 in any suitable manner, as by the set screw |98 and is kso arranged as to have its bifurcated operating portionsv |91 extend upwardly to engage a collar |88 aiilxed to the slide shaft |44, which, as hereinbefore described, serves to control the operation of the clutch 58.

When the operator desires to interrupt the rotary movement of the roll I5 without disturbing the pressure relationship be een the roll and shoe, she depresses the treadle"i 8,| -with her foot. The movement of the treadle |8| will be transmitted through the several cranks and links tn the slide shaft |44 and will be eil'ective oo tr asiaiaa to disengage the clutch 58 through which the roll l5 is driven and allow the roll i5 to remain stationary until the treadle |8| is released. When the treadle III is released, the clutch 58 will re-engage to again impart rotary movement to the roll I5, and the treadle I8| and associated linkages will be returned to their original positions by the spring |48 carried on the slide shaft |44.

The burnishng means 'I'lie machine structure as thus far disclosed will be seen to permit continuous ironing of the fabrics passing between the ironing roll and shoe as these fabrics pass along the path of feeding movement and will also permit this feed movement to be interrupted momentarily to accomplish stationary pressing of portions of the fabric. It is desirable, however. that the ironing shoe |8I be maintained in constant surface movement with respect to the fabric being ironed in order to exert a burnishing action on the fabric and thus accomplish a substantial improvement in the appearance of the work delivered from the machine. It is well known that the surface of fabrics being ironed will present a better finish and appearance if the ironing shoe is in constant motion with respect to the fabric during the ironing operation and it is for this reason that the present machine is provided with bumishing mechanism whereby the ironing roll and shoe may be kept in constant relative movement even during the periods in which the feeding movement of the roll is interrupted.

The burnishing mechanism is driven by means of a bevel gear 28| keyed to the sleeve 85 on the shaft 28 ata point between the worm gear 21 and the pinion gear 84 heretofore described. This bevel gear 28| meshes with and drives a bevel gear 282 keyed to a driving clutch sleeve 288 journaled for rotation in `a bearing |88 formed in an inwardly extending nange 288 ingral with the gear case I1. 'I'he clutch sleeve 288 is provided with an enlarged head portion 284 including a plurality of clutch teeth 285 adapted to be engaged by corresponding clutch teeth 288 of a driven clutch elem clutch element 281 is slidably splinlilittizinlcrilill shaft 288 journaled at its outer end inl a bearin the wall of the gear case |1 end portion 2|| their lower extremities by the link 2| g ing between the studs 2|8 (see Fig. 5). extend Each of the levers 2I8 is pivotall y mo a stud 22| threaded into each of themptsig (Ei impart a limited longitudinal movement to the shoe |I.

To facilitate this action and prevent any possibility of binding between the pivotal connection 223 by which the ironing shoe |0| is supported, each of the supporting brackets 224 is pivotally mounted on the shoe IOI by means of a stud 225 extending through the orifice 225 in the base, 221 of the supporting bracket 228. This construction provides a universal type joint between the arms |64 and the shoe |0| and permits the arms |54 and levers 2I8 to swing back and forth in a paral1el-link motion to provide the desired degree of longitudinal motion for the ironing shoe.

This burnishing mechanism makes it possible to maintain surface movement at all times during the operation of the machine, since the shoe IOI may be caused to reciprocate constantly with respect to the roll I5. However, when the roll I is rotating in such a manner as to advance the work under the shoe, the motion of the roll provides sufficient surface movement and it is then unnecessary, and in some instances undesirable, to reciprocate the shoe. For this reason control mechanisms are provided responsive to the operation of the roll drive interrupting mechanisms heretofore described, in such a manner that when the operator depresses the foot pedal I8I, the roll I5 will cease to advance and the shoe IOI will begin its reciprocating movement. Similarly, when the foot .pedal I8I is released the shoe IOI will cease its reciprocating movement and the roll I5 will again advance in a rotary movement in the direction of .the path of feed. It will be understood, of course, that this cycle of operations may take place while the roll and shoe remain in constant pressure engagement and operate entirely independently of the knee control I2I which is common to the mechanism driving the roll I5 and the pressure mechanism serving to engage or disengage the roll and shoe.

In order that the reciprocating drive control be responsive to the operation of the roll drive interrupting means, a clutch disengaging arm 23| is secured to the rock shaft |80 heretofore described. This clutch disengaging arm 23| is mounted at the extreme end of the rock shaft |89 adjacent the bearing 232 in which the shaft |89 is journaled and in a position adjacent the driven clutch element 201, which is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed control pins 233 which may be engaged or disengaged by the arm 23| in such a manner as to move the driven clutch element longitudinally along the splined shaft 208 in order to engage or disengage the teeth 205 and 206.

During the normal operation of the machine, the arm 23| maintains the position illustrated in Figs. 7, and 11, and holds the clutch element 201 in disengaged position. However, when the foot pedal I8I is depressed to interrupt the rotary movement of the roll I5, the rock shaft I89 moves in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l1, and swings the arm 23| from the solid line position shown in the drawings to the dotted line position. This motion, of course, releases the ever the foot pedal I8| is depressed to operate the rock shaft |83 and slide the shaft |44 longitudinally to disengage the clutch mechanism 59 and interrupt the rotary feeding movement of the roll I5, the clutch 204-201 will simultaneously engage to rotate the crank member 2|3 and im- 'part longitudinal reciprocating movement to the ironing shoe IOI. When the foot pedal |8I is released, the coiled compression spring |48 on the longitudinally sliding shaft |44 will return the rock shaft |89 to its original position and move the clutch disengaging ann 23| back into the path of rotary movement of the control pins 233, and

as either of these control pins 233 engage the' inclined cam surface 235 of the disengaging arm 23|, the continued movement of the clutch element 201 will force the element 201 longitudinally of the splined shaft 208 and disengage the clutch. The several parts may then remain in disengaged position until such time as the foot pedal I8I is again operated.

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide a .burnishing mechanism which may operate independently of the operation of the other parts of the mechanism ratherthan by means of the automatic control just described, and to this end a clutch disengaging arm 24| is mounted on a rock shaft 242 journaled in suitable bearings 243 within the gear case I1, and is provided with a crank arm 244 and connecting link 245 pivoted at 246 in such a manner that the movement of the clutch disengaging arm 24| may be manually controlled by the hand control lever 241. The lever 241 is mounted on a stub shaft 248 journaled in a bearing 249 in the roll support bracket I8 and is provided at its inner end with a crank 25| pivotally connected to the upper end of the connecting link 245 by crank pin 252 (see Figs. 6, '1 and 8).

Whenever the operator desires that the burnishing mechanism be rendered inoperative, the manual control lever 241 may be moved approximately one-fourth turn in a counterclockwise direction, and this motion will be eilective to operate through the connecting link 245 to rock the rock shaft 242 and move the clutch disengaging lever 24| into the path of movement of the control pins 233 carried on the clutch element 201. The operation of the clutch disengaging arm 24| is identical with the operation of the similar arm 23| hereinbefore described.

The arms 23| and 24| are so positioned with respect to the clutch member that the operation of either of these arms will be effective to stop the clutch control pins 233 at one of two diametrically opposed positions. By this construction it is possible to nx the relative angular position between the crank member 2|3 and the clutch control pins 233 so that whenever the clutch 204-201 is disengaged, the crank stud 2I5 will come to rest in a position either directly above the center line of the splined shaft 208 or directly below the center, in order that the ironing shoe I0| will come to rest in a central position at the mid-point of its path of longitudinal burnishing movement and' in a predetermined centralized relationship with respect to the posiy tion of the roll I5.

The operation While it is believed that the operation of the machine should be apparentA from the foregoing description, it will nevertheless be briefly re-l closing the electrical switch 000, which remains closed during the entire period of operation. Material to be ironed may now be placed on the roll I adjacent ,the ironing shoe |0| and the knee control |2| actuated. The movement of the knee control lever 2| will be transmitted through the link |20 to the crank |20 and thence from the crank |0| to the stop lever'l I0 in order that the dog lll of the rocker arm ||2 will be momentarily disengaged by the stop arm ||9. When this disengagement takes place, the tension spring |30 will pivot the rocker arm ||2 'about the hub ||0 and cause the slide plate |05 to engage the tooth |09 in the toothed disk |02, which is being driven by the motor |0 operating through the worm and gear 26 and 21. When the tooth |09 engages the disk |02, the entireV casting |00 will move through one half revolution of movement at which time the dog ||0 will engage the stop arm ||6 causing the tooth |09 to bring the casting |00 and its associated mechanlsms to a standstill. However, the rotary movement of the casting |00 will have caused the cam surface 0| to disengage the-cam extension |03 of the shifting yoke |02 and will thus engage the clutch mechanism 99 and complete the driving connection between the motor 0 and the roll I5. This will cause the roll IB to begin its movement and at the same time the ironing shoe |0| will be moved into resilient engagement with the roll by means of the eccentric operating through the eccentric strap |52 and pressure spring |06, in order to exert a rocking movement on the shaft IBI, which will be transmitted through the cranks |1| and links |13 to the ironing shoe arms |60 in such a manner as to draw the shoe |0| downwardly into engagement with the surface of the ironing roll I5. Ihis relationship of these parts will continue until-the knee control lever |2| is again actuated to disengage the shoe |0| and stop the movement of the roll I5 or until the foot pedal |0| is actuated.

When the foot pedal |0| is operated, motion is transmitted through the cranks |83, |05 and I 00 to the rock shaft |09f and the shifting yoke |95, which will move the slide shaft |00 longitudinally in such a manner as to cause the shifting yoke |03 to disengage the clutch 59 and thus interrupt the rotary feeding movement of the roll I5 while it is still being engaged by the heated ironing shoe |0|. The actuation of the foot pedal |0| and rocking movement of the rock shaft I 09, will simultaneously cause the clutch 200-201 to engage and impart rotary movement to the crank ||3 in such a manner as to move the shoe |0| in a successively repeated path of movement longitudinal of the axis of the roll l5 and normal to the direction of feed of the work passing between the roll and shoe. 'I'he arrangement is such that the roll and shoe are in substantially constant relative surface movement at all times, both when the roll is rotating to advance the fabrics being ironed under the shoe and when the movement of the roll has been interrupted to provide spot ironing on certain portions oi' the work.

When the operator removes her foot from the pedal IBI, the clutch 59 will be re-engaged by means of the spring |00, the clutch disengaging the arm 23| will again move into the path of movement of the clutch control pins 23|, and the continued movement of the clutch element 201 will disengase the clutch 200-201 and bring the crank 23| to a stop in a predetermined position,

asians such that the shoe |0| will come to rest in proper longitudinal relationship with the roll Ii.

While the preferred form of this invention has been shown and described in compliance with the patent statutes, it is nevertheless subject to numerous alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention and should not, therefore, be limited except as by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes ironing machine including a rotatably mounted feeding and pressing roll, a cooperating ironing shoe including a portion adapted to engage the surface of the feeding and pressing roll and to engage the surface of fabrics being passed between said roll and shoe to iron the fabrics, supports for said feeding and pressure roll and for said ironing shoe, a motor, power transmission means comprising a reduction seal' train to rotate said roll, pressure means for said shoe: the combination ofv control means for simultaneously operating said power traen means and said pressure means, additional feedinterrupting control means comprising a clutch adapted to be operated by a foot pedal to provide spot ironing, additional burnishing means comprising the said shoe and clutch and an eccentric adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to said shoe, and means for simultaneously operating said feed-interrupting control and said burnishing means.

2. In an ironing machine including a rotatable feeding and pressing roll, a cooperating ironer shoe adapted to be moved into pressing engagement with said roll, power operated means to rotate said feeding and pressing roll to advance the fabrics being ironed in a predetermined direction of feed between said roll and said ironing shoe, power operated means to move said roll and shoe into cooperating pressing engagement, and common control mechanisms whereby the said roll and shoe may be caused to engage in synchronous-timed relationship with the commencement of feeding movement of said feed roll and be caused to disengage in synchronous-timed relationship with the cessation of said feeding movement of saidroll, the combination of means for supporting said feed roll and ironer shoe to permit limited reciprocating movement of said shoe in a direction longitudinal of the axis of said pressing roll, driving means including a power source, a clutch, and an eccentric to cause said movement between said shoe and roll, means including a foot-operated control element to momentarily interrupt the feeding movement of said roll while said roll and shoe remain in engaged pressing relationship, means responsive to the operation of said feed interrupting means to operate the aforesaid clutch.

3. In an ironing machine including a rotatable feeding and pressing roll, a cooperating ironer shoe adapted to be moved into pressing engagement with said roll, power operated means to rotate said feeding and pressing roll to advance the fabrics being ironed in a predetermined direction of feed between said roll and said ironing shoe, power operated means to move said roll and shoe into cooperating pressing engagement, and common control mechanisms whereby the said roll and shoe may be caused to engage in synchronous-timed relationship with the commencement of feeding movement of said feed roll and be caused to disengage in synchronous-timed relationship with the cessation of said feeding movement of said roll. the combination of means for supporting said feed roll and ironer shoe to permit limited movement of said shoe in a direction other than the direction of feed of the fabrics being ironed, driving means including a power source, a clutch, and an eccentric to cause said movement between said shoe and roll, means including a foot-operated control element to momentarily interrupt the feeding movement of said roll while said roll and shoe remain in engaged pressing relationship, means responsive to the operation of said feed interrupting means to operate the aforesaid clutch.

4. An ironing machine including an ironing roll, a heated ironing shoe, power operated engaging means adapted to move said ironing roll and heated ironing shoe into cooperating pressing engagement with each other, power-operated roll-driving means for imparting rotary movement to said ironing roll, automatic control mechanisms including a clutch responsive to knee-control actuation by the operator adapted to simultaneously operate said engaging means and said roll driving means. power-operated shoe reciprocating means including a motor, a reduction gear train, and a clutch and an eccentric for imparting relative reciprocating movement in a direction longitudinal of the axis of said roll bei tween said ironing roll and shoe, roll drive interrupting means including a foot pedal operable independently of aforesaid automatic control mechanisms, and means responsive to the operation of said roll drive interrupting means for causing said shoe-reciprocating means to operate.

5. An ironing machine including anironing roll, a heated ironing shoe, power operated engaging means adapted to move said ironing roll and heated ironing shoe into cooperating pressing engagement with each otherpower operated roll-driving means for imparting rotary movement to said ironing roll, automatic ycontrol mechanisms including a clutch adapted to simultaneously operate said engaging means and said roll driving means, power-operated shoe reciprocating means including a clutch for imparting relative reciprocating movement in a direction longitudinal of the axis of said roll between said ironing roll and shoe, roll drive interrupting means operable independently of aforesaid automatic control mechanisms, and means responsive to the operation of said roll drive interrupting means for causing said shoe-reciprocating means to operate.

JOHN A. CASTRICONE. 

